Toledo, OR

Sitting along the Yaquina River about seven miles east of Newport, Toledo offers a relaxed small-town setting near the central Oregon coast. Home to around 3,500 people, the community grew up around the timber industry and river trade, and it still holds onto that down-to-earth, working-waterfront character today. Its location along Highway 20 also means it gets slightly more sunshine and less coastal wind than towns right on the ocean.

ATTRErik ("pdx107") / CC BY 2.0

Daily life centers around a historic downtown with local coffee shops, art galleries, and neighborhood diners. Families are served by Toledo Elementary and Toledo High School, and residents enjoy a public swimming pool, a library, and parks along the water. Highway 20 provides an easy 15-minute drive to Newport's beaches and healthcare facilities, as well as a direct route east toward Corvallis and the Willamette Valley.